The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-05
Towards the Gulf.
sREss OF THE SHIP ISLAND RAILROAD

PROGRESS OF THE SHIP ISLAND RAILROAD.
n. 0. Picayune, Dec. 2s,l
Capt. w. H. Hardy, of Meridian, Miss,
was in town yesterday. He is president of
the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad Com
pany, and a representative of the Picayune
took occasion to ascertain from him the
present status of that enterprise.
The original company was chartered in
1853 or 1884. 1t was a favorite project
with the State of Mississippi, which wished
for seaport on its own coast, The Fed
eral Government granted half million
acres Of land to the railroad, which grant
lapsed by reason of the war and other OBJ
stacles to the prosecution OF the work. At
the last session OF Congress the question of
forfeiting the land was brought up, but
Congress declined to take that action, and
made a special exception OF this COM
pany.
In 1882 the enterprise was revived, and
a new charter secured from the State for a
railroad from some point on the Gulf coast
OF Mississippi accessible to the fine harbor
at Ship Island, running northward central
~ through Mississippi to Jackson, Tenn,
where il will connect with the Illinois
Central, and Mobile and Ohio. The entire
distance il 375 miles.
There is now being constructed railroad
from Evansville, Ind, to jackson, Tenn,
known as the Ohio Valley Railroad, which
will connect with the Evansville and
Terre Haute at Evansville, and gives di-
rect line 10 Chicago and a shorter one than
any other between the points named.
The Ship Island Road will run about
equidistant between the Mobile and Ohio
and Illinois Central through Mississippi.
The route also crosses the following
lines: Louisville and Nashville, North
eastern, Vicksburg and Memphis, Natchez,
Jackson and Columbus, Aberdeen branch
of Illinois Central, Kansas City, Memphis
and Birmingham, Memphis and Charles
ton.
The road will pass through or Lear ten
county towns: Augusta, in Perry county ;
Raleigh, in Smith county Forest. in Scott
county Carthage, in Leake county Ches-
ter, in Choctaw county Houston, in
Chickasaw county Pontotoc, in Pontotoc
county New Albany, in Union county ;
Ripley, in Tippah county.
At Middleton the route intersects the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The
road is in operation from Middleton south
to Cotton Plant, 81 miles, and is graded
nearly to Pontotoc, 81 miles. On Jan. l,
DY arrangement Win the CtoeS3 INV NOh'ASU
force of $50 hands will be placed at work
on the line of the southern division, be-
tween Hattiesburg and the coast. The
work Oh the northern division will be con-
tinued. 1t is thought that the road Will
be finished within three years. There are
raised along the line within % miles OF It
100000 bales of cotton annually. In the
same section live $4,000 people.
The route runs for 100 miles through the
finest pine timber land in the South. The
remainder OF the liue penetrates agricui-
tural districts, thickly settled by white and
colored population. The work so far has
been done without calling for aid from the
outside, but negotiations with capitalists
are pending, and at an early day arrange
ments for funds to complete the road will
be contaminated. Some of these capital,
lists have recently gone over the line and
are much pleased.
The point at which the road will strike
the Gulf has not yet been selected. This
matter is now in the hands of the engi-
neers. 1t is plobable that their report as to
the most practicable and favorable termi-
nus will be submitted to the United States
Engineer Department for suggestions and
approval, with the view of obtaining later
appropriations from Congress to improve
the harbor.
The officers of the Gulf and Ship Island
Railroad Company are : President, w. ID.
Hardy Vice President, w. G. Falkner,
of Ripley Secretary and Treasurer, VIM.
Henry, of Jackson Superintendent OF
Construction for the Southern division, j.
HoskipS